The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1887-01-13
Significant Figures. .

The Vanaicator is one of our fayorite ex-
changes. It is always readable, enterpris-
ing andoriginal. During the holiday sea-
son it is particularly attractive, and can be
relied upon to vary the monotony of
newspaper reading by a pleasant foray
into the realms Of romance. Whether in
recounting the adventures of Little
Tommie Stufin,n or regaling its readers
with the philosophic musings, quaint hui
NOR and genuine pathos of p. Bozey," it
is equally happy, and we watch with no
little pleasure these periodical excursions
from the beaten pathway to the greener
pastures where fancy roams at will. and
weaves its garlands, the perfume of which
fingers long after the blossoms have with
cred
With the opening number of the new
year, our versatile contemporary leads off
with what is intended as q parade of the
fruits of Democratic administration, but
so strong is the influence of the season and
force Of habit, and so slender the store of
fact upon which to draw, that Fancy
plumes her wings for the annual flight and
away she goes to hold communion with the
subtitle creations around the fireside of Up.
Bozey.'' Only the most fertile imagina-
tion could evolve the conclusions which
our friend reaches from the statistics pre-
sented. In reply to the statement of the
VIRGINIAN that period of depression re-
suited from the apprehension that the Dem
4 ocratic administration would carry out
the pledges it had given, and that that APP
prehension was not dispelled until it was
ascertained that the administration was
powerless to -redeem its promises, the YIN.
dictator points to the fact that the invest
ments in the South during 1856 were $780,
| 812, 900, and in 1886 they reached to $780,
900. These figures but verify the
statement we made They show that as
soon as it was known that the party in
power could do nothing to change the well
known policy of it's predecessor. pub
lie confidence was restored, and the money
banked up in the vaults poured forth te
find employment. This money came south.
ward why? Because here We're the raw
materials, the iron ore, the coal, SC. Oul
] contemporary is frank and candid. We
ask it to tell its readers whether one dollar
would have sought investment in Southern
mineral fields if the duty on raw materials
had been removed. With the tariff of u
cents per ton on ore and on coal abolished
the Southern resources would have SLEPT
on and our national supply have been drawn
J almost exclusively from foreign countries
J Then the only new furnaces established
J would have been planted on the coast tx
meet the raw materials at the waters edge
!, Because the Republican policy was main
, tanned because the duty on raw materia
. was not removed, is the reason why the
furnaces are being erected in the South IN
!; stead of on the sea shore
u And yet, the Democratic party in its ma
: tional platform. declared against the dut!
on raw materials. The Democratic execu
, tive is in accord with that platform. Tn,
J Democratic Secretary of the Treasury en-
} dorses and emphasizes it, and four-ffth'
J of the Democratic members of Congress
voted in effect to carry out its promises
!. for all the world knew that the Morrison
} bill was but the first step to the reaemp
, tion of the party pledges.
II These are the plain, common-sense fact
! and allthe romancipg of our neighbor viii
not alter them one jot or little. IF a con
!, tinuance of protection will benefit TIT
: South, then the only national friend thu
South has is the Republican party. If fret
trade will close the door to her develop
ment, then the only national enemy shs
has is the Democratic party. Her presen
prosperity and future promise are duesole
ly and singly to the failure of the Demo
r cratic party to carry out its announced
recognized and distinctive programme